Ray Family

Ray Family

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Welcome Home Party for Micah

My mom and dad threw an amazing "welcome home" party for Micah at their home in Turlock on Saturday. We drove the 5 hour drive on Friday, stayed in a hotel, and got to their house at 10:30 on Saturday morning. Mom already had the tables up and decorated :) I helped Grandma Lois with the corn and bread, and boy did the kitchen get hot!

Most of my family were able to come, and a few of my closest friends. It was such a good time with great food, swimming, chatting, and lots of hugs. It was so hard to say goodbye to everyone. Here are some pictures, but I'm so bummed I didn't get any of my grandparents or my parents... I don't even think there's any of my sister because she was taking pictures with my camera! :/

We didn't get pictures of a lot of people that were there! Let's see... Mom & Dad, Adam, Amanda, Hailey & Emily Wallace, Sara & Brooke Ange, Grandpa & Grandma Barnard, Grandma Pat, Aunt Carole & Uncle Jack Harlan, Aunt Sandy Wallace & her friend Gordon, Marna Bynum, Rick & Chris Wallace, Sherrie Wallace, James, Caroline, Bernadette, Nathaniel, Atticus, Annaliese & Genevieve Bray, Claire, Addison & Aiden Souto, April & Charlie Dunham-Filson, and last but not least... Ethan, Colleen, Calista, Reese & Sophia Johnson. PLEASE FORGIVE ME if I forgot anyone! Aunt Brenda came to see us later in the day, and Bobby saw Micah the night before.


Shot of the pool area.


Gracie loves the water these days!



My brother, Adam, with his youngest daughter, Emily.



James, Genevieve, Caroline, and Claire... (just wish I could've taken a picture with those girls! They've been great friends FOREVER!) :) They were gone by the time I thought to take a picture with them.



Aunt Sherrie and my sister-in-law, Amanda. Where was Chuck?!



Adam's oldest daughter, Hailey, and Aunt Chris helping Annie to the pool.



Me pulling the train of girls :)



Me with Annie-bug.



Barry and I with some of the littles.



Me, Fischer, and Micah.



Me, Micah, and Chloe.



All 8 of the Wallace grandkids... Brooke, Fischer, Micah, Annie, Chloe, Hailey, Gracie, and Emily. Nana and Papa are sure lucky!





Micah sure loves the water. He'll kick and have a great time as long as you're holding him tight, but as soon as he gets splashed, the tears come on!!!



Fischer - the first water baby in the family :)



Claire and Amanda



Chloe


Annie playing with Micah's new space shuttle!



April and me. Friends forever!


Gracie and Chloe



April's son, Charlie



My cousin, Colleen, and I... we've been buddies FOREVER!!!
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Saying goodbye to Uncle John

It's always sad when people go to live with the Lord. This was no exception. Barry's uncle John Mooar passed on August 10, 2011 at the age of 68.


Barry was able to take pictures of his other family members' markers while he was at the funeral.




Peace be with you until we meet again, Uncle John. You will be missed.
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Dancing in the kitchen

Lately, it's become somewhat of a nightly tradition to dance before bedtime. We put oldies on in the kitchen and the kids go wild. This particular night was more fun because Grandma is here visiting from New Mexico!



Go Gracie, go!!




Micah and Grandma were getting down! :) LOL


And the dip... haha, it was so fun. "Splish splash I was takin' a bath... all on a Saturday night"...
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Meeting Melissa!

We got to meet Melissa, Camilla, and Ryan on Friday, August 19th! Melissa and her husband are adopting "Aaron" from Reece's Rainbow (see his picture to the right). Remember he was the one who was given to us on our first day at Micah's orphanage? We were beyond excited that Beth Herrington found Aaron a family while we were still in Ukraine. We have yet to meet that wonderful lady.


Here is Ryan with our two littlest littles.


Me with Melissa. We ate at Tahoe Joe's with my sister and her family. It was such a nice evening of visiting!


Here is part of Aaron's forever family! :) Oh the love... they're coming soon little man, very soon! Camilla is Melissa's mom, and Ryan is "Aaron's" big brother.

We will be traveling up to the Sacramento area as soon as they bring Aaron home, hopefully in early 2012! :) Oh, I just can't wait to hold that sweet boy again. I'm so happy to be his "Aunt Shelly" since I can't be his mommy. I couldn't have wished a better mommy for him though; Melissa is truly amazing. It's so inspirational to meet other adoptive parents in their process; making forever friends is the best!
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Sunday, August 14, 2011

Gracie's 2nd day of Kindergarten...





Yes, her first day was Thursday, but it was an orientation day, so we found out that Friday was her "real" first day. The day with the backpack, lunch pail, and tears... for her and me! I didn't cry with Fischer because he was so ready to go... I found myself crying with Gracie because she was so scared (just at the door). Trust me, I suprised myself!


Of course, she had a great day and told me she is excited to be going back on Monday. And she was proud to say she used her 30 cents for milk money on CHOCOLATE milk, lol. We've had a good weekend and a few minutes ago I told her we had to get her backpack and lunch pail ready for tomorrow and she proudly said with a smile, "Okay!"





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Thursday, August 11, 2011

Fischer's first day of school

I know, I know... I did separate posts for each child instead of one "first day" post. Oh well, it's my blog :)

Fischer's first day was also today. I took him to school this morning as I do every first day of school. It was bittersweet because I realized it's his last "first day", at least in the mandatory public school system. Sending your firstborn on their last "first day", and your second child on their first "first day" is quite the emotional experience!

After school, he came to the car smiling, which is always a good sign. It sounds like he really likes all of his teachers and is optimistic about his classes. I'm so glad because I really want him to enjoy this year, have a lot of fun, and look back on it as his favorite year of school as it should be :)




I forgot to take pictures before school, so these are after school pictures. Yes, sometimes mothers forget their camera at 6am, don't judge :) The tall building behind him is the "Snake Pit" at Serrano High School. It's also known as the John Hinkley Performing Arts Center (PAC)... where all the plays and musicals take place, as well as all the concerts the band performs. Fischer spends a lot of time in there, and we are lucky to spend a few nights a year watching him. Let the year begin!
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Gracie's first day of Kindergarten!

Gracie started Kindergarten today. I asked Barry last night, "How is this possible? We just had her yesterday!" She has been excited all week. I've been nervous because she is the one out of the family that does not do well with change. She has major separation anxiety and loves to scream when I leave her in new situations. She shuts down and does not talk to people. It's always a hard thing with her. Well, today she blossomed. She had courage. And she did not cry!

Chloe loves being with her big sister... she was off to her 2nd day of preschool as Gracie was going to Kindergarten :)

Then Annie had to jump in too, lol.

Barry met us at the school so we could take her together.

Showing off behind Daddy's car.

In front of the door to her classroom.


Today was an orientation day. Parents listened while the kids played outside with the AM teacher... When I said Gracie had courage, it was because she got up and walked in the line to go outside without crying, whining, or hesitating. She took a deep breath and just went. For anyone who knows her, they know this is a big step for her! She was really such a brave girl today.

The woman looking toward the camera is her teacher, Mrs. Crimmins.

Love Hollywood with the mohawk... they don't let the kids have those at school, but I guess it's okay for the parents :)

Tomorrow will be the bigger test. It will be her first "real" day of school, all by herself. I'm hoping since she's met the teacher & some of the kids and seen her classroom, that she will feel confident again and do just as well. I'm really glad I switched her to the PM class... this will give her the mornings to get up slowly like she likes to do. Hopefully that means less of a struggle to get out the door. Except for those pesky minimum days where she'll have the AM schedule.
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